The House on 24th Street

This story is 1200 something words and its a creepy short story!

The House on 24th Street

A few weeks ago my fiancée Derek was in a car crash. Today was the funeral, his sister left flowers on his grave when she called me up to give a speech about Derek. 

Derek was the man who I knew for so long, my best friend. Since I met him 8 years ago, he’s been the one to help me get through the grief and sadness. He never let anyone make him feel bad or anything. I know that he would be an angel and wait for us all

Saying that hurt me so much. I will love him forever and will never forget him. 

When I got home, I went on his old computer and on one tab it showed this beautiful 2 story house. It had 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and this beautiful balcony. It was so big, but he wasn’t able to buy it in time; someone else got it already, so I decided to find a house similar to the one Derek wanted. I found one house in Chicago Heights in Illinois, it was at a pretty cheap price for such a nice neighborhood. It appeared very similar on the website. I bought it and went to the house as soon as I could. Since I wanted to know more about the area I did some research on Chicago Heights. The population of Chicago Heights was about 25,754. After doing some more research I found out that it is a decent suburb, it had areas that were beautiful and safe but some areas that weren’t as safe at night.

   *1 month later*

“Hey Em come on!” I said as I brought my cat Em to the airport in a bag. Em was a feisty cat but loved Derek since the day we got her. Em was a kitty that had been abandoned by her family. It took her a long time before she was able to trust us. But now, we had to leave our home. I got on the first plane I could and started my move to Chicago Heights, IL from Albridge, New York. 

                  *2 hours later*

Em and I got off the plane. I went to find my luggage and found a taxi to take us to Chicago Heights from Chicago O’Hare International Airport. “Sir? Can you take me to Chicago Heights?” I asked the taxi driver. He agreed and took me and Em to Chicago Heights, the house on 24th street. 

When we got to the house, two little girls with black hair, green eyes, and pale skin were standing on the other side of the sidewalk. “Excuse me? Are you moving to THAT house?” The first girl asked,  and then looked at her sister.

``

“Yes, I am moving into that house.” I said in response.

 

“I wouldn’t move to that house…if I were you...I would leave as soon as I could…” The sister added as they backed away and walked into their house holding hands. 

“Is there a problem here?” I asked, but they walked in too fast and they didn’t answer me. I tried to ignore what they were saying and walked into my house to check it out. Occasionally they would look at me through the window. 

*Someone knocks on the door*

“Hello? Who’s there?” I asked and went to open the door. There was a lady who looked like she was in her 40’s.

“Hello, you met my daughters earlier.” She said as she handed me a pie.

“Oh they are your daughters?” I asked as I looked out the window.

-Yes, May and June. The months they were born.” She said as the girls walked to my house. “My name is Cam” She added.

“Well it was nice to meet you. Thank you very much for the pie.” As I was closing the door, she stopped me.

“So are you staying for long, here to see family?” She asks, looking a bit worried seeing my boxes and moving truck. 

“Yes, I am moving here.” I said as I closed the door slowly.

“Leave soon…”She whispered after I closed the door.

*At night*

Maybe I should sleep at an inn tonight, while I’m waiting for all my stuff and my bed to get here, I thought to myself as I saw the twins and Cam looking at me. I walked to Le Banque Hotel and talked to the receptionist. “Hello, can I get a room for tonight?” I asked her.

“Yes of course. Where do you live?” She said as she got my room key for room 15. 

“A house on 24th street.” I said quietly. The receptionist dropped the key.

“T-THE house on 24th street?” She asked as she picked up the key. -Try the library in the morning…- She told me in a quiet voice thinking someone would hear her.

“Yes, ma’am…” I said and walked up to my room. I could barely sleep that night. The thing on my mind was always, Should I leave? Am I supposed to leave?  Everything was about me leaving.

*In the morning*

I walk to the library in the morning. “Good morning!” I say as I pass people. They all look at me weirdly and whisper to themselves. “The move in on 24th street.” They say, thinking I don’t hear them. As I get to the library I find the section with newspapers. “Why does everyone want me out of the house…?” I whisper to myself as I find newspapers. I looked for an hour before finding ten newspapers and one newspaper most recently.

The house on 24th street is haunted! In the last twenty years ten people have gone missing!

• Ella McCoy 
• Brady McCoy
• Demi McCoy
• Josh Marne
• Sammel Reck
• Daniel Reck
• Zoe Los
• Jimmy Los
• Darmi Var
• Jay Var

These people have gone missing and we never found them. People of Chicago Heights, if someone moves to the house on 24th street, warn them before it’s too late.

I read the newspaper over and over again.

*A light turns on behind me* 

I stop and I stay still as I try to be quiet thinking that whatever was making those people go missing was coming after me….

“Hello? Is someone back here?” Said someone behind me in a soft voice, an elderly voice.

“Yes. I just moved here…“ I said as I turned around to the librarian who was smiling.

“The one who moved into the house on 24th street,” She said in a calm voice. “And you are trying to find out why everyone wants you to leave?” She added. She gave me all the newspapers without charges. I read them all day and night. I never went in the house. The basement door had police tape on it. Then I saw the note, left by the landlord.

I know everyone wants you to leave…

Although you’ll leave..most likely…

Maybe its time for you to find out where they are….

Here are the basement keys…

-Jeff

I saw the keys for the basement and I opened the door. There seemed to be a lot of clutter of things but I couldn’t see anything. I turned on the lights and saw thousands of bones.

I ran out of there and got Em. I got in my car and didn’t stop until I reached my friend's house in downtown Chicago and a police station. As I left Chicago Heights, I heard the screams of Cam, May, and June.

THE END

Author's Note

What do you think?

Reviews

[Noah]

I really enjoyed this story. The buildup was immaculate and I loved how quick and precise it was. I think it could’ve definitely used some more editing and the grammatical errors were pretty tough to ignore. There were a few gaps in the story and most of the characters felt fairly underdeveloped. If you had added a few character traits or tidbits about the people, it would’ve been easier to follow. All in all, it was a fairly good horror and definitely made me jump. However, I think it could’ve just had some editing and it would’ve been better for that.

[Jordan. S]

I made it for ELA lol

[Noah]

Wow fr? I never put time into my assignments lol